spatial

adjective

spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl 

variants or less commonly spacial

1

: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space

2

: of, relating to, or involved in the perception of relationships (as of objects) in space

tests of spatial ability

spatial memory

spatiality

ˌspā-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

or less commonly spaciality

spatially

ˈspā-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

or less commonly spacially

Examples of spatial in a Sentence

When patients have this kind of problem, they can't feel the relationship between their body and their feet, so they must rely on visual cues to keep themselves upright. Without these cues, they lose their spatial orientation and fall. —John Pettinato, Discover, October 2004

Williams syndrome, which was first described in 1961, results when a group of genes on one copy of chromosome 7 is deleted during embryonic development. Most people with Williams resemble each other more than they do their families, with wide-set hazel eyes, upturned noses, and wide mouths. They also share a peculiar set of mental impairments. Most stumble over the simplest spatial tasks, such as putting together a puzzle, and many not read or write beyond the level of a first grader. —U.S. News & World Report, 15 June 1998

Several new ground-based and orbiting astronomical facilities that could provide high spatial and spectral resolution appear technologically ready for development during the next several decades. —Robert D. Gehrz et al., Science, 25 May 1984

the spatial dimensions of a room

Recent Examples on the Web

Paying the NIMBYs, in other words, might require working with people’s existing aesthetic and spatial preferences, not trying to overcome them. — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 17 July 2026

Skullcandy announced a new version of its Crusher wireless headphones today featuring a few of Bose’s audio technologies including its QuietControl ANC and head-tracking spatial audio. — Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 16 July 2026

His work explores the intersection of craftsmanship, material innovation, and spatial experimentation, resulting in distinctive homes that have earned accolades from the American Institute of Architects and design media. — Ad Pro, Architectural Digest, 13 July 2026

Both of these typically tokenize data into 1D or 2D sequences, which makes simple spatial tasks unnecessarily difficult—like counting unique chairs in a short video, or remembering what a room looked like an hour ago. — ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin spatium space

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spatial

• spatial summation

Rhymes for spatial

• facial
• glacial
• racial
• spacial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids Definition

spatial

adjective

spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl 

: of or relating to space

spatially

ˈspāsh-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

spatial

adjective

spa·​tial ˈspā-shəl 

1

: relating to, occupying, or having the character of space

affected with spatial disorientation

2

: of or relating to facility in perceiving relations (as of objects) in space

tests of spatial ability

spatially

ˈspāsh-(ə-)lē 

adverb